Chapter 115
Her brows knit together.
“You thought I was taken p>
“Yes who wouldn’t p>
Her expression shifts again with something soft flickering there.
“You went to the bridge we fell from p>
“Yes p>
“And p>
“And there was blood p>
She swallows.
“I hit my head when I climbed out,” she says quietly. “It wasn’t much p>
I step closer and cup the back of her head gently, my fingers sliding into her damp hair.
“Le t me see p>
She winces slightly as she tilts her head, there’s a small cut near her scalp. Nothing deep luckily
But the sight of it makes my stomach twist.
“I told you not to leave,” I say.
“I know p>
“It wasn’t a suggestion p>
“And I’m not a fuckign prisoner in this house, I don’t even know why I came back here. I could have just gone back to my house p>
My jaw tightens.
“You’re alive,” I say. “That’s the only reason I’m not having Aaron’s head on a platter p>
Her eyes flash.
“You don’t get to control where I go because you have enemies p>
“You almost ended up in the river and dead because of those enemies p>
“But I didn’t p>
I step back slightly, forcing space between us before I say something I won’t take back.
“You scared me, El.” I say instead.
The admission feels strange in my mouth and her expression changes immediately.
“I wasn’t taken,” she says softly.
“I didn’t know that then p>
Silence settles.
Her chin lifts slightly.
“I’m not fragile p>
“I never said you were p>
“You treat me like I am… like Like I’m some glass that would easily break p>
I step forward again, lowering my voice.
“I treat you like you matter p>
That stops her and for a second, neither of us speaks.
Water drips slowly from the hem of her clothes onto the floor.
“You’re shaking,” I say.
“I’m cold p>
I take her hand without asking and start toward the hallway to our bedroom.
“Where are we going p>
“To get you dry p>
“I can walk by myself without you dragging me around p>
“I know p>
I don’t let go anyway.
Upstairs, in the bedroom I release her long enough to grab a towel and press it into her hands.
She stands there watching me like she’s trying to read something in my face.
“You were going to tear the city apart,” she says quietly.
“Yes p>
“For me p>
“Yes p>
There’s no hesitatio and it surprises even me cause this isn’t me. I’m a very selfish person I don’t do things like this for people, I most definitely do not risk my life for anyone and I did that today.
Her throat moves as she swallows.
“You don’t get to lock me away though,” she says finally.
“And you don’t get to disappear on me like that p>
We’re back at square one again.
But this time she steps closer instead of away.
“I didn’t just disappear,” she says. “I just wanted to see my sister at the hospital, which btw till now I don’t know how she’s doing cause I lost my damn phone in that fucking water p>
I reach up and brush my thumb lightly over the scrape near her collarbone, my touch careful and gentle.
“You’re not leaving the estate alone again,” I say.
“That’s not p>
“Not negotiable p>
She exhales s’softly.
“We’ll talk about it tomorrow,” she mutters
“fine p>
Because right now she’s here and she’s standing in front of me and that’s enough for tonight.
I pull her into me again, less crushing this time, just enough to feel her warmth starting to return and my chest finally begins to ease.
But the anger doesn’t leave, someone still has to pay for what happened.
She’s halfway dry now.
Her hair is still damp at the ends, curling against her collarbone. She changed into one of my shirts now… with the sleeves rolled twice at the wrists and a pair of leggings she found in the drawer. She looks smaller like this.
Which makes the memory of her standing soaked on the steps hit harder.
She’s watching me.
“I know what you’re going to say tomorrow,” she says finally. Guess she re-thought the talking tomorrow thing she said.
I don’t interrupt.
She exhales slowly. “But you knew I wanted to check on my sister. She wasn’t answering hwr phone. You knew that p>
I stay silent on purpose.
Silence makes people keep talking. She shifts her weight, crossing her arms like she’s bracing herself.
“Don’t look at me like that.” She says when I keep looking at her without reponding.
“Like what.” I ask her
“Like I’m stupid. I didn’t have much of a choice p>
My eyes narrow slightly.
“You didn’t have a choice?” I ask quietly.
“I didn’t.” Her voice tightens. “I tried to talk to you about this but you simply wouldn’t listen. So I just had to do it my way p>
I let out a short breath that isn’t quite a laugh.
“So you thought it was a good idea to sneak out with Aaron,” I say slowly, “knowing full well my enemies are circling. That was the smarter option p>
Her chin lifts.
“Yes. Because at least I was doing something p>
“How did that work out for you p>
She flinches at that but she doesn’t back down.
“You don’t get to talk to me like I’m one of your men,” she says.
“I’m talking to you like someone who could’ve died tonight p>
“And againnnnnnn I didn’t p>
I step closer.
“How did you make it back here p>
She blinks like she didn’t expect the change in question.
“I walked then hailed a car down p>
My body goes still.
“You did what p>
“Well,” she rushes slightly, “I walked the distance from the bridge to the road, then I hailed down a car and had the driver drive me to the house”
My hands curl into fists at my sides.
“So not only did you sneak out,” I say evenly, “you flagged down a total stranger, got into his car and had him drive you back here p>
Her shoulders tense.
“He was just some guy p>
“That’s the fucking point p>